The Local Food Alliance will present two community screenings of the documentary “Fed Up” at the Community Campus in Hailey. Courtesy photo |
By YANNA LANTZ
For The Express
One-third of Americans are overweight, and one in four are either diabetic or pre-diabetic. Of the 600,000 food products in the United States, a staggering 80 percent have unnecessary added sugar.
National Food Day aims to change the food and food polices in America; this year it falls on Oct. 24. The Center for Science in the Public Interest said, “Oct. 24 is a day to resolve to make changes in our own diets and to take action to solve food-related problems in our communities at the local, state and national level. In 2014, Food Day will have a special focus on food access and justice for food and farm workers.”
In honor of national Food Day, the Local Food Alliance will present two community screenings of the documentary “FED UP.” The film emphasizes the dangers of the sugary American diet and was praised by USA Today as “the movie that will change the way people think about eating.”
“FED UP” highlights the consequences of America’s sugar-laden, junk-filled diet. Director Stephanie Soecthig, Oscar-winning Producer Laurie David and journalist Katie Couric promise to change the way you eat forever.
Ali Long, director of the Local Food Alliance, is passionate about the messages in “FED UP.”
“The food system is the most powerful way I have found to affect the health of my children, my family, my community/local economy, and the health of our planet,” she said.
Some topics from “FED UP” are eyebrow raising. Food labels don’t list the percentage of SRDA (recommended daily allowance) next to sugar; on average, it would be upward of 120 percent. Brain imaging reveals that the effects of sugar and those of cocaine are virtually identical. The US gross national product and global position of power have come to depend on the monopoly of the food industry, and some activists now claim that the government is unwilling to make changes to better public health.
“Our food system has become industrialized, mechanized and broken. It is causing diabetes and obesity at epidemic proportions and is 40 percent responsible for greenhouse gases.”
Ali Long
Director Local Food Alliance
The Local Food Alliance “exists to create a healthy local food system and restore food security in the Wood River Valley,” Long said. “With that mission in mind, the film spotlights major reasons why our mission is timely and critical.”
She believes the documentary is a must-see for anyone interested in achieving health by means of a better diet and hopes the film will be a wake-up call to the real dangers of eating too much sugar.
“Our food system has become industrialized, mechanized, and broken,” she said. “It is causing diabetes and obesity at epidemic proportions and is 40 percent responsible for greenhouse gases. We hope people will think about the power of food purchasing choices towards policy change and public health.”
“FED UP” is rated PG and has a run time of 1 hour and 39 minutes. The documentary will be shown on Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at the Magic Lantern Cinemas in Ketchum and Friday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. at the Community Campus in Hailey. Julie Johnson and Sarah Seppa will run a panel discussion following the screenings.
The suggested donation for “FED UP” is $5 to $10. To reserve tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com/fedupketchum, www.eventbrite.com/feduphailey, or email ali@localfoodalliance.org. For more information about the film, go to www.fedupmovie.com.